South Carolina 68, Kentucky 62
The Kentucky Wildcats, the unanimous number 1 in the AP and Coaches poll, and number 3 in the power rankings lasted just over a day. The top-ranked Wildcats went into Columbia to play against South Carolina, led by 5-foot-9 G Devan Downey. Downey was dominant throughout the night, scoring 30 points against the Wildcats. Kentucky struggled offensively, scoring only 62 points and getting scoring contributions from 6 guys. John Wall had a good game, but late fouls and fumbled passes cost the game for Kentucky. With the Wildcats defeated, Kansas and Syracuse should fight for the top spot, with Kansas taking number 1.
Kansas State 76, Baylor 74
Kansas State survived a tough road game against Baylor, and the Wildcats showed up against the rising Bears. K-State was led by star G Jacob Pullen, who had 25 points for the Wildcats in the victory. Tweeny Carter was the leading scorer for Baylor, putting up 23 points in the losing effort. Kansas State had a tough loss last week after upsetting Texas, losing to Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Wildcats finish off the toughest week of the year on Saturday against Kansas.
Michigan State 57, Michigan 56
The Spartans survived a scare on the road against in-state rival Michigan. Kalin Lucas hit the GW shot for Michigan State. The Woleverines played a great game, with DeShawn Sims scoring 19 and Manny Harris for 16. Michigan State is off to their best start in conference play, at 8-0. Michigan falls to .500 at 10-10 this season. The Spartans will probably be in the top 3 next week barring a setback on Saturday against Northwestern.
3 top teams faced tough matchups today, and the number 1 team in the land fell to a conference opponent. Next week there should be a new number one, unless one of the top teams falls on Saturday. Enjoy the rest of the week!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
College Basketball Top 25 Power Rankings
College basketball season is in high gear, and the top 25 has been consistently changing. To compile my power rankings, I have taken the average of 4 rankings systems, the AP poll, the coaches poll, the Sagarin ratings, and the RPI. For some teams, like Syracuse, who has a high RPI, this helped them. But for a team like Michigan State, their RPI of 14 affected their power ranking.
Here is the Top 25:
1. Kansas (AP: 2, Coaches 2, Sagarin: 1, RPI: 2)
2. Syracuse (4, 4, 2, 1)
3. Kentucky (1, 1, 6, 7)
4. Villanova (3, 3, 5, 4)
5. Duke (8, 7, 3, 3)
6. Texas (6, 6, 5, 9)
7. West Virginia (9, 9, 8, 5)
8. Georgetown (7, 11, 10, 6)
9. Michigan State (5, 5, 13, 14)
10. Purdue (10, 12, 9, 12)
11. Kansas St. (11, 13, 11, 8)
12. BYU (12, 10, 7, 22)
13. Wisconsin (16, 16, 12, 10)
14. Temple (15, 15, 15, 11)
15. Tennessee (14, 14, 14, 15)
16. Gonzaga (13, 8, 17, 24)
17. Pittsburgh (17, 17, 20, 20)
18. Vanderbilt (21, 23, 24, 16)
19. UCONN (19, 19, 31, 18)
20. Ole Miss (18, 20, 19, 31)
21. Georgia Tech (22, 22, 25, 29)
22. Wake Forest (29, 30, 16, 23)
23. New Mexico (23, 27, 30, 19)
24. Baylor (24, 29, 18, 30)
25. Butler (30, 18, 28, 25)
As you can see, some teams have higher power rankings than their AP ranking (Vandy, Butler, Wake Forest) because of their RPI and Sagarin ratings. Others (Gonzaga, Michigan State, Kentucky) are hurt by poor RPI and Sagarin ratings. Now let's take a look at the conference breakdown.
Big East (6)
SEC (4)
Big 10 (4)
Big 12 (3)
ACC (3)
MWC (2)
WCC (1)
A-10 (1)
Horizon (1)
So far, the Big East leads college basketball with 6 teams in the top 25. Only 5 teams have managed to crack the top 25 from non-power conferences, but many, such as Northern Iowa, UAB, and Cornell are right at the doorstep of the top 25 power rankings.
Game to watch: January 26, (11) Kansas State at (24) Baylor
Enjoy this weekend of college basketball! Come back next Monday for new rankings!
Here is the Top 25:
1. Kansas (AP: 2, Coaches 2, Sagarin: 1, RPI: 2)
2. Syracuse (4, 4, 2, 1)
3. Kentucky (1, 1, 6, 7)
4. Villanova (3, 3, 5, 4)
5. Duke (8, 7, 3, 3)
6. Texas (6, 6, 5, 9)
7. West Virginia (9, 9, 8, 5)
8. Georgetown (7, 11, 10, 6)
9. Michigan State (5, 5, 13, 14)
10. Purdue (10, 12, 9, 12)
11. Kansas St. (11, 13, 11, 8)
12. BYU (12, 10, 7, 22)
13. Wisconsin (16, 16, 12, 10)
14. Temple (15, 15, 15, 11)
15. Tennessee (14, 14, 14, 15)
16. Gonzaga (13, 8, 17, 24)
17. Pittsburgh (17, 17, 20, 20)
18. Vanderbilt (21, 23, 24, 16)
19. UCONN (19, 19, 31, 18)
20. Ole Miss (18, 20, 19, 31)
21. Georgia Tech (22, 22, 25, 29)
22. Wake Forest (29, 30, 16, 23)
23. New Mexico (23, 27, 30, 19)
24. Baylor (24, 29, 18, 30)
25. Butler (30, 18, 28, 25)
As you can see, some teams have higher power rankings than their AP ranking (Vandy, Butler, Wake Forest) because of their RPI and Sagarin ratings. Others (Gonzaga, Michigan State, Kentucky) are hurt by poor RPI and Sagarin ratings. Now let's take a look at the conference breakdown.
Big East (6)
SEC (4)
Big 10 (4)
Big 12 (3)
ACC (3)
MWC (2)
WCC (1)
A-10 (1)
Horizon (1)
So far, the Big East leads college basketball with 6 teams in the top 25. Only 5 teams have managed to crack the top 25 from non-power conferences, but many, such as Northern Iowa, UAB, and Cornell are right at the doorstep of the top 25 power rankings.
Game to watch: January 26, (11) Kansas State at (24) Baylor
Enjoy this weekend of college basketball! Come back next Monday for new rankings!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Super Bowl Preview
It's finally upon us, the best football game of the season, the Super Bowl. On February 7, the Colts (16-2) will take on the New Orleans Saints (15-3) in Miami's Sun Life Stadium. Let's take an in-depth look at the Super Bowl matchup.
This game will ride on the Colts' defense and their ability to stop the Saints high-octane offense. Dwight Freeney will have to get in Drew Brees' face and force him to make bad throws. The Saints defense will have to force takeaways from Peyton Manning and the smart Colts offense. The run game of both teams will have to step up, as they both have outstanding defensive secondaries.
Here are some matchups to look at on Super Bowl sunday.
Peyton Manning vs. Darren Sharper: Sharper has been an explosive defensive threat for New Orleans, but Peyton Manning is a veteran quarterback who can read defenses well. Look for a great battle between these two.
Dwight Freeney vs. Drew Brees: Drew Brees had a great campaign this year for the Saints, and to make good throws he will need to be protected. Dwight Freeney will need to do what Jared Allen did for the Vikings by getting in his face and forcing him to retreat from the pocket and make bad throws.
The Colts and Saints were the two top teams in the regular season, and should provide a great Super Bowl matchup. I think the Colts will establish their passing game and Peyton Manning will prove why he deserves to be the MVP and lead the Colts to victory.
On the way to the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl and Senior Bowl will provide enough football for the wait between now and February 7. Enjoy!
This game will ride on the Colts' defense and their ability to stop the Saints high-octane offense. Dwight Freeney will have to get in Drew Brees' face and force him to make bad throws. The Saints defense will have to force takeaways from Peyton Manning and the smart Colts offense. The run game of both teams will have to step up, as they both have outstanding defensive secondaries.
Here are some matchups to look at on Super Bowl sunday.
Peyton Manning vs. Darren Sharper: Sharper has been an explosive defensive threat for New Orleans, but Peyton Manning is a veteran quarterback who can read defenses well. Look for a great battle between these two.
Dwight Freeney vs. Drew Brees: Drew Brees had a great campaign this year for the Saints, and to make good throws he will need to be protected. Dwight Freeney will need to do what Jared Allen did for the Vikings by getting in his face and forcing him to retreat from the pocket and make bad throws.
The Colts and Saints were the two top teams in the regular season, and should provide a great Super Bowl matchup. I think the Colts will establish their passing game and Peyton Manning will prove why he deserves to be the MVP and lead the Colts to victory.
On the way to the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl and Senior Bowl will provide enough football for the wait between now and February 7. Enjoy!
Conference Championship Wrap-Up
Well, after a great Sunday of NFL football, two teams are happily making plans for Miami. Let's take a look at how the Colts and Saints ensured victory.
AFC Championship: Indianapolis Colts 30, New York Jets 17
The Colts started off this game down 17-13 at the half, but rallied to score 17 unanswered points in the second half. The Colts shut down the Jets stellar run game, holding the Shonn Greene/Thomas Jones tandem to a total of 83 yards combined. The Colts actually out rushed the Jets, gaining 101 yards on the ground to the Jets' 86. Young receivers Austin Collie and Pierre Garçon stepped up today for Indy, combining for 18 receptions and 274 yards. Reggie Wayne was relatively kept out of the game by Darrelle Revis, catching 3 passes for 55 yards. Indianapolis gets ready for the high powered Saints in Miami for the Super Bowl.
NFC Championship: New Orleans Saints 31, Minnesota Vikings 28 (OT)
In a very exciting, overtime affair, the Saints pulled away on a 40 yard field goal by Garrett Hartley. Minnesota dominated the game offensively, gaining a total of 475 yards to the Saints' 257. The Vikings killed themselves with 5 turnovers lost, as the Saints' defense was able to force their signature takeaways. Drew Brees hit Devery Henderson, Pierre Thomas, and Reggie Bush for three touchdowns through the air. The Saints will march into Miami for their first ever trip to the Super Bowl to take on the Colts.
The conference championships provided two great games, and a great Super Bowl matchup. In the next post, we'll take an in-depth look at the Super Bowl matchups.
AFC Championship: Indianapolis Colts 30, New York Jets 17
The Colts started off this game down 17-13 at the half, but rallied to score 17 unanswered points in the second half. The Colts shut down the Jets stellar run game, holding the Shonn Greene/Thomas Jones tandem to a total of 83 yards combined. The Colts actually out rushed the Jets, gaining 101 yards on the ground to the Jets' 86. Young receivers Austin Collie and Pierre Garçon stepped up today for Indy, combining for 18 receptions and 274 yards. Reggie Wayne was relatively kept out of the game by Darrelle Revis, catching 3 passes for 55 yards. Indianapolis gets ready for the high powered Saints in Miami for the Super Bowl.
NFC Championship: New Orleans Saints 31, Minnesota Vikings 28 (OT)
In a very exciting, overtime affair, the Saints pulled away on a 40 yard field goal by Garrett Hartley. Minnesota dominated the game offensively, gaining a total of 475 yards to the Saints' 257. The Vikings killed themselves with 5 turnovers lost, as the Saints' defense was able to force their signature takeaways. Drew Brees hit Devery Henderson, Pierre Thomas, and Reggie Bush for three touchdowns through the air. The Saints will march into Miami for their first ever trip to the Super Bowl to take on the Colts.
The conference championships provided two great games, and a great Super Bowl matchup. In the next post, we'll take an in-depth look at the Super Bowl matchups.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
NCAA College Basketball Conference Preview
With college basketball getting into conference play, let's take a look at each conference, and who we might see getting that automatic bid come tournament time. Here's who I predict will win each conference.
America East: Vermont Catamounts (13-5, 4-0) - The Catamounts have impressive victories over Rutgers and Boston U, and have played 14 of their 18 games on the road. Senior F Marqus Blakely leads the team in scoring as they head into America East conference play.
ACC: Clemson Tigers (15-3, 3-1) - Clemson has played well in conference play, beating UNC by a good margin, and a good victory over Butler. They play a tough ACC schedule, but I think they will pull out over Duke and UNC.
Atlantic Sun: Campbell Fighting Camels (11-5, 6-1) - Campbell does not have many impressive wins, but in a struggling A-Sun conference, they should be able to win the conference.
A-10: Xavier Musketeers (12-5, 4-0) - The Musketeers have played a strong schedule, with wins over Cincinnati and a controversial one-point loss to Butler. The Musketeers are definitely a team to watch down the stretch.
Big East: Syracuse Orange (17-1, 4-1) - The Orange have played a great schedule, defeating Cal, UNC, Florida, and West Virginia. The Orange will play a tough Big East schedule, playing Georgetown and UCONN. The Orange are definitely a force.
Big Sky: Northern Colorado Bears (16-4, 5-2) - The Bears have topped TCU, Hawaii, and Air Force, as well as playing Oklahoma very tough. They also beat Weber State, who will likely be their only competition out of the Big Sky.
Big South: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (17-3, 7-1) - The Chanticleers have played well this season, their biggest loss came against Duke, but they should be able beat out their competition.
Big 10: Michigan State Spartans (15-3, 5-0) - The Spartans are experienced after their run to the championship game last season. Wins over Wisconsin and Northwestern top their list of victories, and Big 10 play will always be difficult, but the Spartans seem to have the edge.
Big 12: Kansas Jayhawks (16-1, 2-0) - The Jayhawks have one loss to Tennessee, but they have played well against every single opponent besides the loss. Texas has a tough game coming up against UCONN, and if both teams remain undefeated through conference play, the February 8th matchup between the two will likely decide the winner.
Big West: Pacific Tigers (10-6, 3-1) - Pacific had a tough loss to UCSB, one of their main competitors, but good wins over Fresno State and San Diego St. give them the advantage.
Colonial Athletic: Old Dominion Monarchs (14-5, 6-1) - Good wins over Drexel and Georgetown give ODU a great edge over other strong teams in the competitive CAA.
C-USA: UAB Blazers (15-2, 3-0) - The Blazers have always been the #2 team in CUSA behind Memphis, but with the Tigers having a down year, look for UAB to win the conference.
Horizon League: Butler Bulldogs (14-4, 7-0) - The Bulldogs played a vicious non-conference schedule, managin wins against Ohio State and Xavier. The Horizon League looks to be theirs to lose.
Ivy League: Cornell Big Red (15-3, 1-0) - Cornell is having a great season, with a win over Alabama, as well as playing Kansas as tough as anyone in the country. They will face tough competition from a stout Harvard team, but should take the title in the Ivy League.
Metro-Atlantic: Siena Saints (14-4, 7-0) - Siena was a tournament team last year, and many think they will be one of the top mid-majors in the tourney again this year. They should win this conference easily.
MAC: Akron Zips (12-5, 2-1) - Akron has some great games against bad teams, but against good teams they have struggled. They are very talented, and have a good chance of winning, but could struggle down the stretch.
Mid-Eastern: Morgan State Golden Bears (11-7, 4-0) - The Golden Bears played Louisville hard, and have had many other wins. They won't face much competition in the Mid-Eastern this season.
Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa Panthers (16-1, 7-0) - Northern Iowa is the best team in the MVC, and could be one of the top mid-majors in the country. They should win the MVC handily.
Mountain West: BYU Cougars (18-1, 3-0) - BYU is having a great season, despite a disappointing loss to Utah State, but they have some solid games including wins over Arizona State, Fresno State, and UNLV. BYU should win the MWC.
Northeast: Quinnipiac Bobcats (11-6, 5-1) - Quinnipiac will face a tough competitor in Robert Morris, but is easily the best team in the conference.
Ohio Valley: Murray State Racers (16-3, 8-0) - Murray State is the best team in the OVC, and should not face any trouble from any teams in their conference.
Pac-10: California Golden Bears (11-6, 3-2) - Cal had a tough non-conference schedule, but in a down Pac-10, their talent should put them over the top.
Patriot League: Army Golden Knights (11-6, 1-2) - Army has played a great season, beating Harvard and shocking most of basketball by starting the year well. They should be able to win the Patriot League.
SEC: Kentucky Wildcats (18-0, 3-0) - Kentucky is lead by great PG play from John Wall, and is one of the top teams in the country. They should compete for the national title this season.
Southern: Western Carolina Catamounts (14-3, 4-1) - A good win over Louisville highlights Western's schedule, and they should be able to take this conference easily.
Southland: Sam Houston State Bearkats (10-5, 2-0) - The Bearkats played Kentucky tough, and should be a top team in the Southland, but UTSA could present some challenges.
SWAC: Texas Southern Tigers (7-9, 3-1) - The SWAC is one of the worst conferences in college basketball, and Texas Southern is probably the best team in a very weak conference.
Summit: Oakland (Mich.) Grizzlies (13-7, 7-0) - Oakland had a tough December, but roared back to win 7 straight in January. The Grizzles should win the Summit league this season.
Sun Belt: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (11-5, 4-1) - The Hilltoppers have been a strong tournament team in recent years, and should make it again this season. The Hilltoppers will face competition from South Alabama, another strong team.
West Coast: Gonzaga Bulldogs (14-3, 3-0) - Gonzaga is consistently a top team, and with Patty Mills gone from St. Mary's, no team in this league can compete with them.
WAC: Louisiana Tech (17-2, 5-0) - Louisiana Tech is having a great year, with their only losses coming against solid teams in New Mexico and Arizona. They should beat out New Mexico State for the conference title.
This year of college basketball looks to be a good one, and with conference play coming up, rivalries and great match ups will come up every week.
America East: Vermont Catamounts (13-5, 4-0) - The Catamounts have impressive victories over Rutgers and Boston U, and have played 14 of their 18 games on the road. Senior F Marqus Blakely leads the team in scoring as they head into America East conference play.
ACC: Clemson Tigers (15-3, 3-1) - Clemson has played well in conference play, beating UNC by a good margin, and a good victory over Butler. They play a tough ACC schedule, but I think they will pull out over Duke and UNC.
Atlantic Sun: Campbell Fighting Camels (11-5, 6-1) - Campbell does not have many impressive wins, but in a struggling A-Sun conference, they should be able to win the conference.
A-10: Xavier Musketeers (12-5, 4-0) - The Musketeers have played a strong schedule, with wins over Cincinnati and a controversial one-point loss to Butler. The Musketeers are definitely a team to watch down the stretch.
Big East: Syracuse Orange (17-1, 4-1) - The Orange have played a great schedule, defeating Cal, UNC, Florida, and West Virginia. The Orange will play a tough Big East schedule, playing Georgetown and UCONN. The Orange are definitely a force.
Big Sky: Northern Colorado Bears (16-4, 5-2) - The Bears have topped TCU, Hawaii, and Air Force, as well as playing Oklahoma very tough. They also beat Weber State, who will likely be their only competition out of the Big Sky.
Big South: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (17-3, 7-1) - The Chanticleers have played well this season, their biggest loss came against Duke, but they should be able beat out their competition.
Big 10: Michigan State Spartans (15-3, 5-0) - The Spartans are experienced after their run to the championship game last season. Wins over Wisconsin and Northwestern top their list of victories, and Big 10 play will always be difficult, but the Spartans seem to have the edge.
Big 12: Kansas Jayhawks (16-1, 2-0) - The Jayhawks have one loss to Tennessee, but they have played well against every single opponent besides the loss. Texas has a tough game coming up against UCONN, and if both teams remain undefeated through conference play, the February 8th matchup between the two will likely decide the winner.
Big West: Pacific Tigers (10-6, 3-1) - Pacific had a tough loss to UCSB, one of their main competitors, but good wins over Fresno State and San Diego St. give them the advantage.
Colonial Athletic: Old Dominion Monarchs (14-5, 6-1) - Good wins over Drexel and Georgetown give ODU a great edge over other strong teams in the competitive CAA.
C-USA: UAB Blazers (15-2, 3-0) - The Blazers have always been the #2 team in CUSA behind Memphis, but with the Tigers having a down year, look for UAB to win the conference.
Horizon League: Butler Bulldogs (14-4, 7-0) - The Bulldogs played a vicious non-conference schedule, managin wins against Ohio State and Xavier. The Horizon League looks to be theirs to lose.
Ivy League: Cornell Big Red (15-3, 1-0) - Cornell is having a great season, with a win over Alabama, as well as playing Kansas as tough as anyone in the country. They will face tough competition from a stout Harvard team, but should take the title in the Ivy League.
Metro-Atlantic: Siena Saints (14-4, 7-0) - Siena was a tournament team last year, and many think they will be one of the top mid-majors in the tourney again this year. They should win this conference easily.
MAC: Akron Zips (12-5, 2-1) - Akron has some great games against bad teams, but against good teams they have struggled. They are very talented, and have a good chance of winning, but could struggle down the stretch.
Mid-Eastern: Morgan State Golden Bears (11-7, 4-0) - The Golden Bears played Louisville hard, and have had many other wins. They won't face much competition in the Mid-Eastern this season.
Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa Panthers (16-1, 7-0) - Northern Iowa is the best team in the MVC, and could be one of the top mid-majors in the country. They should win the MVC handily.
Mountain West: BYU Cougars (18-1, 3-0) - BYU is having a great season, despite a disappointing loss to Utah State, but they have some solid games including wins over Arizona State, Fresno State, and UNLV. BYU should win the MWC.
Northeast: Quinnipiac Bobcats (11-6, 5-1) - Quinnipiac will face a tough competitor in Robert Morris, but is easily the best team in the conference.
Ohio Valley: Murray State Racers (16-3, 8-0) - Murray State is the best team in the OVC, and should not face any trouble from any teams in their conference.
Pac-10: California Golden Bears (11-6, 3-2) - Cal had a tough non-conference schedule, but in a down Pac-10, their talent should put them over the top.
Patriot League: Army Golden Knights (11-6, 1-2) - Army has played a great season, beating Harvard and shocking most of basketball by starting the year well. They should be able to win the Patriot League.
SEC: Kentucky Wildcats (18-0, 3-0) - Kentucky is lead by great PG play from John Wall, and is one of the top teams in the country. They should compete for the national title this season.
Southern: Western Carolina Catamounts (14-3, 4-1) - A good win over Louisville highlights Western's schedule, and they should be able to take this conference easily.
Southland: Sam Houston State Bearkats (10-5, 2-0) - The Bearkats played Kentucky tough, and should be a top team in the Southland, but UTSA could present some challenges.
SWAC: Texas Southern Tigers (7-9, 3-1) - The SWAC is one of the worst conferences in college basketball, and Texas Southern is probably the best team in a very weak conference.
Summit: Oakland (Mich.) Grizzlies (13-7, 7-0) - Oakland had a tough December, but roared back to win 7 straight in January. The Grizzles should win the Summit league this season.
Sun Belt: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (11-5, 4-1) - The Hilltoppers have been a strong tournament team in recent years, and should make it again this season. The Hilltoppers will face competition from South Alabama, another strong team.
West Coast: Gonzaga Bulldogs (14-3, 3-0) - Gonzaga is consistently a top team, and with Patty Mills gone from St. Mary's, no team in this league can compete with them.
WAC: Louisiana Tech (17-2, 5-0) - Louisiana Tech is having a great year, with their only losses coming against solid teams in New Mexico and Arizona. They should beat out New Mexico State for the conference title.
This year of college basketball looks to be a good one, and with conference play coming up, rivalries and great match ups will come up every week.
NFL Conference Championship Preview
After a great weekend of football, it's time for the conference championships, and to find out which teams will be playing in Miami. Let's take a look at the match ups this week.
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts (3 ET, CBS Sunday)
The Jets come into this game looking pretty good. The defense has been solid, and the offense is making just enough plays to win games. The big test will be how Mark Sanchez plays against the veteran Colts defense, led by star defensive end Dwight Freeney. The Colts offense looks to play well, but it will be interesting to see if young WR's Pierre Garçon and Austin Collie can step up if Reggie Wayne is stuck on Revis Island for most of the game. For the Jets to win this they will need to shut down Peyton Manning. But Peyton Manning in the postseason is very hard to shut down, so I think the Colts will take this one.
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints (6:40 ET, FOX Sunday)
This has been the NFC game that most people have wanted to see, Brett Favre and the Vikings taking on Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. Both teams have come off of huge victories in the divisional round, and were the two best teams in the conference throughout the regular season. Look for the Saints defense to try and strip the ball from RB Adrian Peterson, who has had ball carrying issues this season. If the Vikings can control, the Saints big play offense, they will definitely have a chance to win this one. I think with the Saints being at the Superdome, they will take this one in a very tough battle.
This upcoming weekend will be exciting as always, as two teams will advance to the Super Bowl. Enjoy the conference championships!
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts (3 ET, CBS Sunday)
The Jets come into this game looking pretty good. The defense has been solid, and the offense is making just enough plays to win games. The big test will be how Mark Sanchez plays against the veteran Colts defense, led by star defensive end Dwight Freeney. The Colts offense looks to play well, but it will be interesting to see if young WR's Pierre Garçon and Austin Collie can step up if Reggie Wayne is stuck on Revis Island for most of the game. For the Jets to win this they will need to shut down Peyton Manning. But Peyton Manning in the postseason is very hard to shut down, so I think the Colts will take this one.
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints (6:40 ET, FOX Sunday)
This has been the NFC game that most people have wanted to see, Brett Favre and the Vikings taking on Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. Both teams have come off of huge victories in the divisional round, and were the two best teams in the conference throughout the regular season. Look for the Saints defense to try and strip the ball from RB Adrian Peterson, who has had ball carrying issues this season. If the Vikings can control, the Saints big play offense, they will definitely have a chance to win this one. I think with the Saints being at the Superdome, they will take this one in a very tough battle.
This upcoming weekend will be exciting as always, as two teams will advance to the Super Bowl. Enjoy the conference championships!
NFL Divisional Round Wrap Up
The divisional round provided some blowouts, as well as some amazing plays and games. Lets review the past weekend in the NFL Playoffs.
New Orleans Saints 45, Arizona Cardinals 14 (Saturday)
Despite an early Tim Hightower touchdown, and a later Beanie Wells touchdown, the Cardinals offense had a tough game against the ball-hawk Saints defense, fumbling 3 times and throwing a pick. The Saints got contributions from everybody, gaining a net of 418 yards offensively. Reggie Bush showed great speed and vision, running for a 46 yard touchdown, and an 83 yard punt return to the end zone. The Saints will stay at home next week to take on the Vikings.
Indianapolis Colts 20, Baltimore Ravens 3 (Saturday)
The Colts were firing on all cylinders today, scoring 20 unanswered points against the Ravens. The Ravens killed themselves with 7 penalties for 64 yards, including a pass interference call on an Ed Reed interception that was returned deep into Colt territory. Reed had two picks that did not turn out, the second was stripped away by Pierre Garçon after a long return. Ray Rice was contained for 64 yards on 17 carries. The Colts will host the New York Jets next week.
Minnesota Vikings 34, Dallas Cowboys 3 (Sunday)
The Vikings were dominant in this one, with Brett Favre firing 4 TD's. Sidney Rice, who is having a breakout season with Favre, caught three touchdowns, including an impressive one-handed 43 yarder. Tony Romo was hammered, sacked 6 times by the Vikings defense. The Vikings passing game had to take over for Adrian Peterson, who was held to only 63 yards. The Vikings will travel to New Orleans to for a matchup of the top two seeds in the NFC against the Saints.
New York Jets 17, San Diego Chargers 14
In probably the best game of the weekend, the Jets pulled off the stunning upset over the Chargers, who had won 11 straight coming into the game. The Chargers led 7-3 going into the 4th quarter, but mental mistakes by the Chargers gave the Jets great field position, and Mark Sanchez hit Dustin Keller for a TD, giving the Jets the lead. The rookie from Iowa, Shonn Greene ran in a 53 yard touchdown to put the Jets up 10. Phillip Rivers went up the middle for a TD with 2 minutes left, but it wasn't enough. Three missed field goals by Nate Kaeding, two of which were within 40 yards, really hurt the Chargers, as they ended up losing by three. The Jets will take on the team that helped them get into the playoffs, the Indianapolis Colts. They will play on the road next week.
The divisional round has provided with some exciting match ups for the Conference Championships. In the next post, we will look ahead to the next round of the NFL playoffs.
New Orleans Saints 45, Arizona Cardinals 14 (Saturday)
Despite an early Tim Hightower touchdown, and a later Beanie Wells touchdown, the Cardinals offense had a tough game against the ball-hawk Saints defense, fumbling 3 times and throwing a pick. The Saints got contributions from everybody, gaining a net of 418 yards offensively. Reggie Bush showed great speed and vision, running for a 46 yard touchdown, and an 83 yard punt return to the end zone. The Saints will stay at home next week to take on the Vikings.
Indianapolis Colts 20, Baltimore Ravens 3 (Saturday)
The Colts were firing on all cylinders today, scoring 20 unanswered points against the Ravens. The Ravens killed themselves with 7 penalties for 64 yards, including a pass interference call on an Ed Reed interception that was returned deep into Colt territory. Reed had two picks that did not turn out, the second was stripped away by Pierre Garçon after a long return. Ray Rice was contained for 64 yards on 17 carries. The Colts will host the New York Jets next week.
Minnesota Vikings 34, Dallas Cowboys 3 (Sunday)
The Vikings were dominant in this one, with Brett Favre firing 4 TD's. Sidney Rice, who is having a breakout season with Favre, caught three touchdowns, including an impressive one-handed 43 yarder. Tony Romo was hammered, sacked 6 times by the Vikings defense. The Vikings passing game had to take over for Adrian Peterson, who was held to only 63 yards. The Vikings will travel to New Orleans to for a matchup of the top two seeds in the NFC against the Saints.
New York Jets 17, San Diego Chargers 14
In probably the best game of the weekend, the Jets pulled off the stunning upset over the Chargers, who had won 11 straight coming into the game. The Chargers led 7-3 going into the 4th quarter, but mental mistakes by the Chargers gave the Jets great field position, and Mark Sanchez hit Dustin Keller for a TD, giving the Jets the lead. The rookie from Iowa, Shonn Greene ran in a 53 yard touchdown to put the Jets up 10. Phillip Rivers went up the middle for a TD with 2 minutes left, but it wasn't enough. Three missed field goals by Nate Kaeding, two of which were within 40 yards, really hurt the Chargers, as they ended up losing by three. The Jets will take on the team that helped them get into the playoffs, the Indianapolis Colts. They will play on the road next week.
The divisional round has provided with some exciting match ups for the Conference Championships. In the next post, we will look ahead to the next round of the NFL playoffs.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
NFL Wild Card Wrap-Up and Divisional Preview
The Wild Card round provided some exciting games, and statement games from teams that we didn't expect to see win. Let's recap the four games of the weekend.
NY Jets 24, Cincinnati Bengals 14
This game started off well for the Bengals, as they scored the first TD for the game, but later gave up 21 unanswered points to the Jets, who were led by Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones touchdowns. Rookie QB Mark Sanchez was 12 of 15 for 182 yards and a touchdown in his playoff debut. TE Dustin Keller contributed a TD and 99 yards, leading the team in receiving. Darrelle Revis held Chad Ochocinco to two catches with 28 yards, and intercepting a pass. The Jets take on the Chargers next Sunday.
Dallas Cowboys 34, Philadelphia Eagles 14
The Cowboys won their 3rd game against the Eagles this season, with the run game leading the way. The Cowboys posted nearly 200 yards rushing, including a 73 yard TD from Felix Jones. The Cowboys gained 426 yards of offense, and the Eagles struggled to get the run game going. Despite a 76 yard Michael Vick passing TD to Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles struggled to produce the big plays like they had in the regular season. Dallas heads to Minnesota next week to take on the Vikings.
Baltimore Ravens 33, New England Patriots 14
In the suprise of the Wild Card round, the Ravens trounced the Pats, with strong plays from the defense and a great run game. Ray Rice ran the ball 22 times for 159 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Patriots looked sloppy, with Tom Brady throwing 3 interceptions and fumbling once on a sack. Julian Edelman replaced Wes Welker with 2 TD's late in the game, but the Ravens' early 24-0 first quarter lead was too much for the Patriots to overcome. The Ravens meet the Colts in the Divisional round next week.
Arizona Cardinals 51, Green Bay Packers 45
In the most exciting game of the weekend, both teams were locked into a shootout in which neither defense could stop the other's offense. Aaron Rodgers had a Packer post-season record 442 yards passing yards, and 5 total touchdowns. Kurt Warner had 379 yards and 5 TD's in a game that went down to the wire in OT. Despite winning the coin toss in OT, the Packers lost the game on a Michael Adams sack and forced fumble which was recovered by Karlos Dansby and returned for a TD. The Cardinals will head to New Orleans next week to battle the Saints.
Now we will take a look at the match ups in next week's Divisional round.
NY Jets at San Diego Chargers
The Chargers are the hottest team in football, winning 11 straight games to end the season. I think the Jets stay in it late, but the Chargers high-powered offense leads them to victory.
Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts
The Colts had the best record in the regular season, despite losing their last two games to the Jets and the Bills, obviously without playing their starters for most of the game. The Ravens showed a lot of talent defensively last week against the Pats, and I think they have a very good chance at the upset, but I still think the Colts will win. However, I would not be surprised to see the Ravens win this one.
Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings
In probably the toughest game of the week, the Cowboys head to Brett Favre and the Vikings. The Cowboys are coming off an impressive win over the Eagles last week. Both offenses have been firing on all cylinders, so this one will probably come down to which defense will be able to get stops at the right times. I think the Vikings will take this one, led by the veteran Brett Favre, and Adrian Peterson.
Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints
The Cardinals are coming off a hard-fought victory over the Packers last week, and if the Cards get Anquan Boldin back, their offense could be even more potent. The Saints finished the season sputtering to 13-3, including a loss to the Bucs. I think that this game will be much like the Cards-Packers game, a shootout that could go to OT. I think the Saints move on in this one.
NY Jets 24, Cincinnati Bengals 14
This game started off well for the Bengals, as they scored the first TD for the game, but later gave up 21 unanswered points to the Jets, who were led by Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones touchdowns. Rookie QB Mark Sanchez was 12 of 15 for 182 yards and a touchdown in his playoff debut. TE Dustin Keller contributed a TD and 99 yards, leading the team in receiving. Darrelle Revis held Chad Ochocinco to two catches with 28 yards, and intercepting a pass. The Jets take on the Chargers next Sunday.
Dallas Cowboys 34, Philadelphia Eagles 14
The Cowboys won their 3rd game against the Eagles this season, with the run game leading the way. The Cowboys posted nearly 200 yards rushing, including a 73 yard TD from Felix Jones. The Cowboys gained 426 yards of offense, and the Eagles struggled to get the run game going. Despite a 76 yard Michael Vick passing TD to Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles struggled to produce the big plays like they had in the regular season. Dallas heads to Minnesota next week to take on the Vikings.
Baltimore Ravens 33, New England Patriots 14
In the suprise of the Wild Card round, the Ravens trounced the Pats, with strong plays from the defense and a great run game. Ray Rice ran the ball 22 times for 159 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Patriots looked sloppy, with Tom Brady throwing 3 interceptions and fumbling once on a sack. Julian Edelman replaced Wes Welker with 2 TD's late in the game, but the Ravens' early 24-0 first quarter lead was too much for the Patriots to overcome. The Ravens meet the Colts in the Divisional round next week.
Arizona Cardinals 51, Green Bay Packers 45
In the most exciting game of the weekend, both teams were locked into a shootout in which neither defense could stop the other's offense. Aaron Rodgers had a Packer post-season record 442 yards passing yards, and 5 total touchdowns. Kurt Warner had 379 yards and 5 TD's in a game that went down to the wire in OT. Despite winning the coin toss in OT, the Packers lost the game on a Michael Adams sack and forced fumble which was recovered by Karlos Dansby and returned for a TD. The Cardinals will head to New Orleans next week to battle the Saints.
Now we will take a look at the match ups in next week's Divisional round.
NY Jets at San Diego Chargers
The Chargers are the hottest team in football, winning 11 straight games to end the season. I think the Jets stay in it late, but the Chargers high-powered offense leads them to victory.
Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts
The Colts had the best record in the regular season, despite losing their last two games to the Jets and the Bills, obviously without playing their starters for most of the game. The Ravens showed a lot of talent defensively last week against the Pats, and I think they have a very good chance at the upset, but I still think the Colts will win. However, I would not be surprised to see the Ravens win this one.
Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings
In probably the toughest game of the week, the Cowboys head to Brett Favre and the Vikings. The Cowboys are coming off an impressive win over the Eagles last week. Both offenses have been firing on all cylinders, so this one will probably come down to which defense will be able to get stops at the right times. I think the Vikings will take this one, led by the veteran Brett Favre, and Adrian Peterson.
Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints
The Cardinals are coming off a hard-fought victory over the Packers last week, and if the Cards get Anquan Boldin back, their offense could be even more potent. The Saints finished the season sputtering to 13-3, including a loss to the Bucs. I think that this game will be much like the Cards-Packers game, a shootout that could go to OT. I think the Saints move on in this one.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
NFL Wild Card Preview
Starting this Saturday, the playoffs will start in the NFL. Let's first look at the match ups in the wild card round of the playoffs.
NFC: Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals
The Packers dominated Arizona in Week 17, although many wonder if Arizona really had anything to play for. Despite the presence of a very strong aerial attack for the Cards, I think the Packers will advance in this one, led by Ryan Grant and Aaron Rodgers.
NFC: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
Another rematch of a Week 17 game, in which the Cowboys won easily over the Eagles. The Eagles were a popular late season pick for many, but the offense just hasn't been clicking the past few weeks. I think the Cowboys sweep the season series this year, making it 3-0 against Philly, and advancing to the next round.
AFC: New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals
One more rematch in the wild card round, the Jets took an easy victory over the Bengals, albeit with a hobbled Chad Ochocinco, who was held catchless. Ochocinco says he should be ready for the playoffs, which could make a difference for the Bengals. I think the Bengals will continue their great season with a wild card win.
AFC: Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots
The Patriots will come into this game without Wes Welker, who is out for the playoffs, and likely most of next year with torn knee ligaments. The Ravens come in led by Joe Flacco, who finished off the year with strong performances against the Bears and Steelers. I think the experience of the Pats leads them to a victory in the wild card round.
So, to recap, I have the Packers over the Cardinals, the Cowboys over the Eagles, the Bengals over the Jets, and the Patriots over the Ravens.
I think the wild card round will present some exciting matchups. The next NFL playoff post will be after the wild card round, with a preview of the divisional round of he playoffs.
NFC: Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals
The Packers dominated Arizona in Week 17, although many wonder if Arizona really had anything to play for. Despite the presence of a very strong aerial attack for the Cards, I think the Packers will advance in this one, led by Ryan Grant and Aaron Rodgers.
NFC: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
Another rematch of a Week 17 game, in which the Cowboys won easily over the Eagles. The Eagles were a popular late season pick for many, but the offense just hasn't been clicking the past few weeks. I think the Cowboys sweep the season series this year, making it 3-0 against Philly, and advancing to the next round.
AFC: New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals
One more rematch in the wild card round, the Jets took an easy victory over the Bengals, albeit with a hobbled Chad Ochocinco, who was held catchless. Ochocinco says he should be ready for the playoffs, which could make a difference for the Bengals. I think the Bengals will continue their great season with a wild card win.
AFC: Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots
The Patriots will come into this game without Wes Welker, who is out for the playoffs, and likely most of next year with torn knee ligaments. The Ravens come in led by Joe Flacco, who finished off the year with strong performances against the Bears and Steelers. I think the experience of the Pats leads them to a victory in the wild card round.
So, to recap, I have the Packers over the Cardinals, the Cowboys over the Eagles, the Bengals over the Jets, and the Patriots over the Ravens.
I think the wild card round will present some exciting matchups. The next NFL playoff post will be after the wild card round, with a preview of the divisional round of he playoffs.
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